Maximum outrage among the parents and relatives of the 57 players from Lanzarote who had been selected to compete in the Donosti Cup, one of the most prestigious summer tournaments in our country. Last Friday they were informed that the money they gave to the trip coordinator was not there, and therefore, they could not go to the tournament because they lacked plane tickets or accommodation in Donosti.
According to José Reyes, youth coach of the combined team, "on Thursday night I received a call from a coach friend from the Basque Country explaining that the participation fees had not been paid to the tournament organization, we immediately organized a meeting for Friday with the maximum number of parents of the children and we conveyed the problem to them." Each player had deposited about 680 euros to travel and participate in the Donosti Cup from July 3 to 9. In Lanzarote, three combined teams of children's, cadet and youth categories had been formed, who will not be able to travel to the Basque Country as the money they had given to the trip organizer has supposedly disappeared. This person is not organizing this tournament for the first time, as they have already attended on other occasions, although in previous years everything had gone correctly.
Some of those affected went this Saturday to the National Police Station where they were attended by the Commissioner, Luis Mayandía. "He explained to us the steps to take in these cases, and therefore, on Monday we will file a complaint in court," explains José Reyes. The mayor of Arrecife, Eva de Anta, has also visited and has shown interest in the problem.
The players are not the only ones who have been affected, many of the parents had also deposited money to travel with the expedition and accompany the minors during their stay in the Donosti Cup. It is estimated that the alleged scam amounts to more than 40,000 euros, as about 60 players from the children's, cadet and youth categories and their families are affected.
"Apart from the complaint in court, we want the children to travel on Saturday, July 2, and we are going to try," said Reyes.
